Came across an interesting article in the New York Times today that talks about an issue that I've taken some heat for making a stand on in the past. It's all about whether giving children a taste of wine at the dinner table has an effect on whether or not they eventually become binge drinkers. Last year about this time I had a back and forth with the guy who spoke at a retreat I was working on after I publicly criticized his "one beer and then he died" message.

Dr. Vaillant compared 136 men who were alcoholics with men who were not. Those who grew up in families where alcohol was forbidden at the table, but was consumed away from the home, apart from food, were seven times more likely to be alcoholics that those who came from families where wine was served with meals but drunkenness was not tolerated.

Jamie and I haven't really discussed whether or not we'll allow Anna to do this. I guess we will. We do model moderate drinking of wine for her all the time though.

Speaking of binges, I've been on a new music binge again lately. I haven't blogged about what I'm listening to in a long time. There's been a lot that I like, but there haven't been any just amazing, add this to my Top 10 of All-Time albums out lately. I guess you can't expect those all the time.

Counting Crows - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings
I haven't listened to the Counting Crows in quite a while. What had been released on the radio over the last few years kind of bored me. I heard some decent stuff about their new album and decided to check it out. It's a solid release. Some of the fire is back. I just got it a couple of days ago, but I'd recommend it if you ever were a fan of the band. I was lucky enough to catch the band before they made it. I saw them opening for Cracker a couple of times back in college. Before their first album, the classic August and Everything After came out. I remember hearing them with only a couple of hundred folks and being right up in the front, captivated by their songs on the first listen. I knew they were going to be big some day.

The Dexateens - Lost and Found
Bart recommended this band out of Tuscaloosa. Their latest album was posted for free on their website. It's not bad at all. It's kind of alt.country in the vein of the Old 97's and the Jayhawks.

Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
If you're a fan of his work in the New Pornographers, you ought to check out his Dan Bejar's Destroyer. I only really discovered Destroyer with the last album, but if you're into the eccentric indie singer-songwriter (and often indie pop) kind of stuff. It's worth a listen.

Black Mountain - In the Future
For fans of Wolfmother and 70's AOR.